Question regarding wallpaper pictures

[Aileen Kailum]

After a lot of searching through the other forums on this site, I've still been unable to find an answer to my question. So here it goes:

Let's say I want to make a wallpaper. Where do I find the pictures for it?

Any help will be appreciated.

[Aoshi]

the easiest way i've found to get pics is through google. But i don't know if your parents have limitations on the content you can search for. Many pics aren't rated. It's not that they are bad pics, but no one takes the time to rate the pic before they put it online. So the pic has no rating.

[Aileen Kailum]

What about copyrights?

[Aoshi]

Copyrights shouldn't have anything to do with you because you aren't trying to sell the wallpapers as your original works. Trademarks and copyrights exist to make sure that i don't draw a character from an already current anime or manga, and try to sell it as my own original creation. It's my original work, of an already exsiting creation. You don't have to worry about legal stuff if you are making a wallpaper. Well, unless you are saying you created the character from set anime.

[Mithrandir]

I'm going to jump in with a bit 'o law here... Aoshi, that's not entirely accurate, although it's what most people think.

Technially, using a copyrighted image that you will turn around and only store on your computer likely qualifies as OK. In a court battle, it would be very difficult for anyone to chalange that you are earning recognition or money that would rightfully go to the copyright owner. As soon as you post it on the internet, though, it's technially broadcast to everyone, and therefore you need express written permission from the owner of the copyright.

That being said, the chances that the copyright owner would care are not that high. In fact, many are just as happy to see the wallpapers out there, as it means more people will learn about the work itself.

I think there is a common misconception that SELLING it makes it illegal. As I read the law, that's not the case. The copyright owner can sue you for DAMAGES, which usually means showing financial harm - but the copyright law seems to apply to more than that.

- IANAL, YMMV

[MyrrhLynn]

Correct, technically there are a lot of illegal wallpapers running around on the internet. I've never heard of anyone getting sued for making a wallpaper with an anime series though. Actually I don't even know of anyone selling a wallpaper as a print/T-shirt getting in trouble but I personally wouldn't risk it. From what I understand the whole fansub community is in much more danger of the copyright laws then a graphic maker.

As a general rule though, most artist try to still credit the original creators and/or companies who own the copyrights on the series when they make graphics. That's why you see lots of "Copyright: blah, blah blah and blah blah blah" at the bottom of wallpapers or on layouts made with anime images.

As for getting pics they are lots of good resources out there especially for wallpaper makers. Animepaper and Minitokyo are my favorites but as Aoshi mentioned the pics aren't censored in anyway, so you might see something you don't want to.

[Aoshi]

ah thanks for clerifying that guys. There's been a lot of fuss about the general issue at katsucon and i thought it was illegal to sell only. But with that whole "Damages" thing, i can see how vauge that is and how someone could use it in court.

Basically, if you make the wallpaper, the safest way as per what the rest have said, is to just keep it for yourself. Although, also as the others have said, i highly doubt the creators will care.

[Aileen Kailum]

Okay. Thanks for the help everyone.

[Ashley]

Myrrh also has a huge selection of vectors, pngs, and scans at her site, Daystar Designs. ^^

[KBMaster]

Well, it would also depend on the series you would want to make a wallpaper of. There are a lot of fan galleries out there that are just waiting for wallers. The more general galleries(excluding google[in which you'll most likely have to swim through a sea of fan art and hentai pics)] aren't usually the best because they are focusing on ALL the animes , so there are usually very few pictures or a few good pictures and a ton of screenshots.

Oh, I've rambled, haven't I?

[MyrrhLynn]

Myrrh also has a huge selection of vectors, pngs, and scans at her site, Daystar Designs. ^^

Well I actually don't have any scans up at the moment (although I'll be putting them back up soon).

However, I just remembered I have a list of good image sources on my site... I think it's on my links page. It basically lists everywhere I get my images from.

I still say Animepaper and Minitokyo are the best for high quality images, but you need "participation points" in order to download so you have to participate in the communities. Animepaper also has a good method of helping new wallers though (it's called Session Zero), that you might find helpful as you are just starting out.